glossary

aggregate – a natural mineral additive (sand, ground marble, ground stone) for plaster to give it strength, adhesion, texture. Various types of aggregate lend different characteristics to particular types of plaster.

binder – the liquid in paint that suspends pigments and aids in adhesion to a surface, an essential additive for our Mineral Paint

Bonding Primer – a primer specifically designed to mineralize synthetic or unstable substrates in order to bond with our Lime Wash, Mineral Paint and Plasters

box brush – a wide brush with a boxy ferrule and all natural bristles suitable for the application of Bonding Primer, Lime Wash, Mineral Paint and plaster slurry

cement mortar – a fast-drying mortar that is harder, more brittle, and less porous than lime mortar, making it unsuitable for restoration projects

compression – the act of applying pressure with a trowel to embed an aggregate in plaster. More compression = a smoother finish.

cutting in – painting the edges of a surface (wall, ceiling, floor) with a brush

expansion joints – a gap in a conventional stucco wall that allows for expansion and contraction. A wall of lime plaster does not require expansion joints.

float – a flat tool used to smooth a wet plaster surface

fresco – watercolor painting on wet plaster that becomes fixed as the plaster dries

glaze – a thin, almost transparent layer of paint composed mostly of water and binder with a small amount of pigment

lightfast – able to resist fading from exposure to light, a salient feature of mineral paint

lime wash – an architectural topcoat composed of natural ingredients (powdered lime, mineral pigments and water) that produces a durable finish soft and elegant in appearance

marmorino – a traditional Venetian plaster finish that, when highly polished, mimics marble

masonry – building materials such as brick and stone that require mortar for assembly

mineral paint – a natural coating, composed of mineral pigments in a binder of potassium silicate (“liquid glass”) that delivers a color-rich, matte finish

mineral pigments – pigments that, due to being derived from inorganic earth materials, have  more intensity, materiality, stability and longevity than synthetic pigments

render – the term for a coat of lime plaster applied to the exterior of a building

scratch coat - a rough first coat of plaster that is “scratched” in order to provide tooth for the next layer to bond to

silicate paint - another term for mineral paint which is composed of silicate minerals 

slurry – a watery mixture of plaster that is applied with a brush

substrate – any architectural surface to which paint or plaster is applied

tadelakt – a traditional Moroccan plaster technique resulting in a polished surface suitable for wet areas